Raking and loading means for peanut harvesters



Feb. 28, 1950 H. w. BEAVER RAKING AND LOADING MEANS FOR PEANUT HARVESTERS 6 Shee'ts-Sheet 1 Filed March 25, 1945 at ICILZI:

INVENTOR HARTSELL W. BEAVER ATTORNEY Feb. 28, 1950 H. w. BEAVER RAKING AND LOAD ING MEANS FOR PEAWT HARVESTERS 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 23, .1945

INVENTOR HARTSELL W.BEAVER ATTORNEY Feb. 28, 1950 H. w. BEAVER RAKING AND LOADING MEANSFOR PEANUT HARVESTERS.

6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 23, 1945 R m @E o T N E v m m2 m2 m N mi E m 9 5 @E 21 mm; .5 m2 69 w: A. q a J o ow 6 Q 9 0 mm 4% E J a o 15 mm m: a a it @E 9 4 0 H m: a M hm M o M t. 3

HARTSELL W. BEAVER ATTORNEY 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Feb. 28, 1950 H. w. BEAVER RAKING AND LOADING MEANS FOR PEANUT HARVESTERS Filed March 23, 1945 Iv R w w n a M B N E R w w m l u M E S T R A H w v lll| lilf|ll| 1| 9: m2 .0 N2 II| |||cu Fl|. rll 1 o||| l l l l I l I Ill 0 om 0 2 Z mm 0 @9 v2 a o 31.0KB w: fin. QE 85" Y 1 no a B S P a a m: m I m 2. om mm T a n mm. ow t. w: 8 a a a a a 8.. vs m: st in mm @9 o 2. ,0 r, u wm U 0 E 5 0 mm 9 mm Feb; 28, 1950 H. W. BEAVER RAKING AND LOADING MEANS FOR PEANUT HARVESTERS 6 She ets-Sheet 5 Filed March 23, 1945 INVENTOR HARTSELL W. BEAVER ATTORNEY Feb. 28, 1950 H. w. BEAVER RAKING AND 1.0mm; MEANS FOR PEANUT HARVESTERS 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed March 25, 1945 lNVENTdR HARTSELL w. BEAVER ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 28, 1950 RAKING AND LOADING MEANS FOR PEANUT HARVESTERS Hartsell W. Beaver, Statesville, N. 0., assignor to Turner Manufacturing Company, Statesville, N. 0., a corporation of North Carolina Application March 23, 1945, Serial No. 584,402

3 Claims.

This invention relates to means for gathering loose vegetation oil the ground and elevating the same onto a suitable intermittently operable conveyor whereby the vegetation can be piled in bunches over a field. This invention is particularly adapted for the harvesting of peanuts though it is also capable of being used for harvesting any kind of vegetation suitable to be handled by the herein disclosed apparatus.

It is an object of this invention to provide a vegetation harvester comprising a wheeled framework adapted to be secured to a prime mover such as a tractor and to be driven by the tractor and having elevating means for picking up the vegetation from the ground and elevating the same and depositing it at a point in the wheeled framework and then providing intermittentlyv operable means, whereby, when a predetermined amount of Vegetation has been deposited on the wheeled framework, it can be dumped from the wheeled framework onto the ground without stopping the forward movement of the wheeled framework.

It is another object of this invention to provide a peanut harvester adapted to be secured to and pulled across a field by a tractor, said tractor having suitable plows or scrapers thereon for uprooting the peanuts and shaking most of the soil therefrom and depositing them onto the ground, and then the wheeled framework secured to the rear end of the tractor has means whereby the uprooted peanut plants with the peanuts thereon can be elevated into the wheeled framework and deposited onto a suitable conveyor together with means operable by the driver of the tractor for activating the conveyor at suitable times to move the deposited peanut plants from the wheeled framework and deposit them in a pile on the ground as the tractor and wheeled framework move over the ground.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the harvester;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an elevation of the other side of the harvester from that shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in Figure 9; v v

Figure 5 is avertical sectional View taken along the line 5-5 in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an exploded sectional View of the structure shown in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is an isometric View of one end of one of the cross-bars on the elevating conveyor showing the means for attaching the cross-bars to the chain which supports the bars; v Figure 8 is a rear elevation of the apparatus; Figure 9 is a front elevation of the apparatus;

- Figure 10 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through one of the bearings for supporting the upper shaft which supports the elevating conveyor and taken along the line lfllll in Figure 9.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the numerals 31 and 38 indicate two draw bars each having a hole 36 therethrough for securing the frame to be hereinafterdescribed to a suitable tractor. v

The rear end of the draw-bars 31 and 3?; are;

welded to longitudinal frame members 4|- and 42 and between the front end of members 4! and is welded a cross-bar 43 and between the rear ends of these longitudinal bars 4| and 42 is welded a cross-bar 44. Welded to the lower edges of the bars 4| and 42 are the rearwardly projecting side bars 45 and 46 and between these rearmost side bars 45 and 46 are cross-bars 41 and 48, these being secured by any suitable means such as bolts, not shown. j Secured to the front portion of the side bars 4! and 42 and risingupwardly therefrom, are bars 50 and 5! in which a shaft 52 is mounted for oscillation, said shaft having a lever, 53' secured thereto by Welding or otherwise and projecti ng upwardly and forwardly. This lever 53 has a pin 54 projecting from both sides thereof which is adapted to be positioned in any one of the notches 5.5 in a pair of bars their lower ends as at 53 to an uprisingmember 59 secured to and rising upwardly from the draw bar 31. The shaft 52 also has bell crank portions 60 projecting upwardly and rearwardly therefrom, to each of which is pivotally secured one end of links 6!, the other end of links til being pivotally connected as at 62 to the elevating con veyor frame to be presently described. The bell cranks 50 and links 6! appear on both sides of the machine and like reference characters will pply.

Secured to the upper surfaces of the side bars 4| and-42 are truss members 65 and 66, on the upper surface of which are secured cross-bars 61 and 68 which are usually angle bars. On these cross-bars 61, and 68 is mounted a cross-bar l0 and on this bar It is a bearing H. A similar bearing 12 is mounted on the upper surface of truss 65, and in these bearings there is rotatably 56 and 5:! pivoted at' mounted a shaft I6 which has a bevelled gear 'I'I secured thereon which meshes with another bevelled gear I8 secured on a shaft I9 rotatably mounted in bearings 80 and BI secured intermediate the ends of cross-bars 61 and 68.

On the. front. end, of shaft I9, is. fixedly secured a conventional universal joint 82'whose forward. end is adapted to be'fixedly secured to' the drive shaft of the tractor, not shown, by any suitable means.

The outer end of shaft I6 has fixed thereon a sprocket wheel 85 on which a sprocket chain 86 is mounted. This sprocket chain isv also mounted on a sprocket wheel. Ii'l'fiXed-fon, a trans?- verse shaft 88 mounted in bearings. 89. "These:-

bearings are identical and will bear like reference characters. Sloping bars 92 and 93E aret'provid ed whose lower ends are welded to the sidebars 4| and 42 and whose upper: ends are welded to upright, angles 94 and 95 whose lower ends are welded to the cross-bar'44 and the side bars 45 and 46 of the rear frame. The bars 92, 03,94 and 9'5'comprise what maybe termed a superstructure for thevpeanutl harvester.

Pivotal'ly secured'as, at Scandal are the upper ends of bars 98 and Hand on thelower ends of which are mounted" the; rollers I and I0I and on these rollers sprocket chains I02 and I03 are. mounted. These sprocket chains I02 and I03 are also mounted on sprocket wheels I04-and' I05 fixed on the. transverse. shaft 88. The sprocket chains I02 and. I03 have secured therebetween a plural'ity of, cross-bars I106, each having a plurality of teeth. I01; projecting therefrom. The, manner in' which these cross-bars" I06" are connected to the sprocket; chains, i shown. in. Figure '7 where oc asional onesiofthe'llnks: I08 of-eachzof the sprocket: chains. m2, and majrhave-a r ht a portionw [I01 Projecting inwardly and the ends; of thelbars I06 .are' secured to this angle-portion. I,Ij0,b,y means of. a bolt, I II The, two bars 98 and 99' arefispaced-from each other. by a. strutor rod I I2" which is disposed near the lower: ends of the bars 98 and 99. The posi-- tion, of the lower end of the conveyor-formed by the chains I02 and I03 and the cross-bars I06, isregulated by the links 6 I' and lever- 53, as previously described;

Rising upwardlylfrom the side frame member 4.1. is aha-r H4 having a tightener'pulley- I'I5 slidably; mounted in aislot H6" in bar l"l=4for'keeping; the; sprocket. chain, 86" taut atall" times;

The. bearings, 89,, as previously described have a. shaft 9.I integral therewith; and this shaft isslid'ably mounted in a, barrel III which has threadably; mounted in the. lower-end thereofia nut. H8. in which is mounted a; set screw IIS-for regulating; the. position of. the bearings. 89 to give the.. proper. tautnessto the conveyor chains H12 and I03.

On: the two uprights 9.4.. and-95,, bearings I22 and I23 are mounted in which, the studs on the ends. ofa beater cylinder I24 .are mounted for rotation, and on one of. these studs, is mounted aisprocket. wheel, I25. onv which a, sprocket chain I26 is mounted; the chain I26 is also mounted err-a spnocket'wheel. I21, mountedon, one end? of shaft..88=. This imparts, rotary motion to'the beater: [24in thesame. directionas the direction in. which the conveyor chains I02 and I03" are movingron their upper portions but, the upper surface of the beater, I24 and-the lower'portion of; conveyor chains, I02 and I03 are; running in opposite-directions. This, causes the beater I24 to prevent any vegetation on the cross-bars I06 from being carried back down on the lower side of the conveyor bars I06 and serves to kick the peanut plants rearwardly to allow them to fall downwardly onto the dumping conveyor to be presently described.

On the rear end of side bars 45 and 46 of the reariframe portion offthe: apparatus there are bearings I30 and I3I in which a shaft I32 is mounted for rotation, and this shaft has sprockets I33 and I 34 fixedly mounted thereon. Near the frontendof. the side bars 45 and 46 are beari ings I35; in which a shaft I36 is rotatably mounted, this shaft having sprocket wheels I31 there- .onnear each end on=-which sprocket chains I39 and. I40 are mounted, said sprocket chains also being mounted on the sprocket wheels I33 and I34; Thesetspnocket chains have spanning the distance therebetween, a plurality of spaced bars I42- which are secured to the sprocket chains I39 and I40 in the same manner as previously described for the sprocket chains I02 and I03 and which-structure-is specifically shown in Figurei'l'j Mounted; on top of the cross-bars 4.1 and 48 and extending longitudinally of the frame is a plurality of spaced slats I45 and on which the upper portion of" the" slats I42 slide when the conveyor isactivated' to move these slats I42 rearwardly.

One'end' of the transverse: rotatable shaft I36 projects outwardly from one side of theframe and has fixedly secured thereon, a 'V-pu1ley- I4'0 on which .a-V-belt I4? is mounted. Thisbelt extends upwardly and is also mounted on aV-pulley I48 fixed on transverse rotatable shaft.88.

'P-ivoted at its upperend on shaft 88 is a down wardlydepending'bar I50 which. has a rearwardl'y projecting leg I5 I-provided witha=ro1ler'l 52:on ,itsifreeend'. i'The-l'ower: end of leg I50 has pivot a lly secureditheretoan'elongated link I53? which extends forwardly to within reach of the driver ofthe tractor so that-:since the V belt I41 is usually loosely mounted on the two V-pulleys I46 and I48 andwillnot cause rotation to be imparted toshaft I36, the driver canpull the link I53 forwardly to tighten the V'-belti I41 to therefore impart. rotation to the transversev shaft I36" to actuate the conveyor having transverse slats 42 to dump the vegetation deposited thereon from time to time out at the rear open end of" the apparatus. Link I53 is slidably supported at itsfront end in a vertical bar I54.

Secured tothe outer end of the transverse bars 4"I= and 48" which project outwardly outside the outer edgesof the longitudinal bars 45 and 46 are sloping side pieces I55 and I56 which have leg portions" I51 and I58 resting on the outwardlyprojecting portions of transverse bars 4! and 48. The sloping side pieces I55 and I56 each have a narrow horizontal portion I60 projecting over theupper surface of the slats I42 and serve to confine the deposited vegetation from lateral movement relative-tothe slats I42 but cause the vegetation to be collected on the slats to be dumped rearwardlyout of the apparatus.

' Mounted at the junction point of the side bars 46 and-'42 and-45 and 4| respectively are the vertically disposed tubular members I-62- and I63 which are also welded to the angle channel bar 44-. Inthese tubular portions I62 and IE3 are mounted for rotation shanks I64- and IE5 which project downwardly andrearwardly, being forked at their lower end as at I66 and I61 and have ro-- tatably mount'ed' therein suitable wheels 1 68: and I69. These shank portions I64 and I are limited as to their" upward movement in supporting the weight of the frame by adjustable collar- I'I0" 5. securedthereon by any suitable means suchas set screw I'II.'-

The side bars 98 and 99 have rollers I15 and I16 for engaging the topmost portions of the conveyor chains I02 and I03 which not only support this upperportion'of the conveyor but also gives a jarring effect to the conveyor on that portion which is moving upwardly to aid to shake dirt from the conveyor and from the peanut plants thereon. "The bars'98 and 99 also have rollers I11 and I I8 thereon near their upper ends for supporting the chains I 02 and I 03 on their downwardly travel and giving a jarring effect to the chains to remove dirt which may have adhered to the chain and to the transverse bars I06 and the teeth I01.

Also mounted on transverse rod I I2 are rollers I19 and I80 beneath which the chains I02 and I03 pass, these latter rollers serving to move the chains I02 and I03 out of a straight line to also give a jarring effect to the conveyor to remove dirt and other objects which may have adhered to therefrom.

The rollers I and II are identical and a detailed description of roller IOI shown in Figures 5 and 6 will be suflicient. Here the roller IOI has a flange NH and this roller is mounted on a tubular bearing I82 which is penetrated by a bolt I83 which also penetrates the bar 99 and the bolt has a head portion provided with a grease fitting I84 which communicates with a grease channel I85 which also communicates with an interior groove I86 in roller IM and the tube I85 and bolt I83 are confined in a fixed position by nuts I81 so that the roller IOI rotates on tube I02.

In the drawings and specification, there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and although specific terms are employed they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only, and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a peanut harvester comprising a wheeled frame, a superstructure on the frame, a transversely disposed shaft, bearing means adustably and rotatably mounting the said shaft in the upper end of the superstructure, a pair of conveyor frame bars having one of their ends pivotally mounted in the upper end of the superstructure and extending downwardly and forwardly towards and below the front end of the wheeled frame, a pair of sprocket wheels mounted on the rotatable shaft, a pair of sprocket chains mounted on the sprocket wheels and having spaced bars secured thereto and extending from one chain to the other, said bars having teeth extending therefrom, an idler roller mounted at the lower end of the said conveyor frame bars and on which the pair of sprocket chains are mounted, a driven shaft in the front end of the frame, a transversely disposed shaft having a geared connection with the driven shaft and a driving connection between the transversely disposed shaft and the firstnamed rotatable shaft, for imparting rotation to the rotatable shaft and to the conveyor chains mounted thereon, means mounted on the frame and connected to the front end of the conveyor frame bars for regulating the height of the front end of the conveyor frame bars relative to the ground.

2. In a peanut harvester for picking up peanut vines which have been dug from the ground comprising a wheeled frame adapted to be connected to a prime mover having a power take-off, uprising members secured to the rear corners of the frame, a pair of side brace bars connected to the upper ends of the uprising members and to an intermediate portion of the frame, a pair of conveyor frame members pivotally mounted at their upper ends on the side brace bars and extending forwardly and downwardly towards the front end of the frame, means mounted'near the front end of the frame for'supporting the front end of the conveyor frame members and for adjusting the height of the front end of the conveyor frame relative to the ground, a pair of shafts slidably and adjustably mounted on the upper ends of the brace bars, a rotatable shaft mounted in said pair of shafts, a pair of sprocket wheels mounted on the rotatable shaft and each having thereon a sprocket chain, a roller mounted in the free end of each of the conveyor frame members and on which the sprocket chains associated with the conveyor frame members are adapted to have idling movement, the conveyor chains having a plurality of spaced cross bars extending therebetween and having teeth projecting therefrom, a driven shaft disposed longitudinally of the front portion of the frame and having means for connecting the same to the power take-off of the prime mover, a transversely disposed shaft driven by the driven shaft and having a sprocket wheel on one end thereof. a third sprocket wheel mounted on the rotatable shaft and a sprocket chain connecting the two last-named sprocket wheels and whereby rotation may be imparted to the rotatable shaft to impart rotation to the conveyor chains, each of the conveyor frame members having intermediate their ends a roller which the upper reach of the conveyor sprocket chains are adapted to contact during upward and rearward movement of the upper reach of the conveyor sprocket chains.

3. In a peanut harvester comprising a wheeled frame and having a pair of uprights rising from its rear corners and having means on its front end for connecting the same to a tractor, a pair of diagonal braces secured to the upper ends of the uprights and extending forwardly and downwardly and being secured to an intermediate portion of the frame, a tubular member mounted on each of the diagonal braces and having a shaft slidably mounted therein and extending upwardly and rearwa-rdly with relation to the frame, means for adjusting the position of the shafts with relation to the tubular members, the extreme upper and rearmost ends of each of the slidable shafts having a hole therethrough, a rotatable shaft mounted in said holes in said slidable shafts, a pair of side conveyor frame bars pivotally connected at one end to the diagonal brace bars and extending downwardly and forwardly with relation to the frame, an idler roller mounted in the free end of each of the conveyor frame bars, a pair of sprocket wheels mounted on said rotatable shaft, a pair of sprocket chains mounted on said sprocket wheels and also on said idler rollers in the front lower ends of the conveyor frame bars, a plurality of spaced toothed bars having their ends connected to the sprocket chains, for engaging and elevating vegetation, a driven shaft mounted near the front end of the frame and a driving connection between the driven shaft and the rotatable shaft for imparting rotation to the rotatable shaft and the sprocket chains forming a part of the conveyor, each of the conveyor frame bars having an idler roller mounted substantially midway its ends and on which the upper reach of the conveyor is adapted to rest I13a1' a,1'(f I to the conveyorframe. 669 908 HARTSELL. W.. BEAVER. j

111741762 REFERENCES CITED Q 1 1,193746 The following references are of record" in the 1,375,258 me of this patent: 2,151,289 UNITED- STAT-ES- PATENTS; 25291065 2389;567 Number Name Date- 10 660,944 B'owen Oct. 30, 1900 Name "Dazte Williams Mar..12, 1901= '"Pippen ""0011; 18, 1910 Quance Man-.7, 1916 Winters Aug. 23,1916 May Apr; 19; I921 Warnke Mar. 21,1939 McLend'on- Sept, 29', 1942 Thornton d Nov. 20, 1945 

